30 Dec 2015

The Village Magistrate Court in Gaborone has denied two men bail.

The duo;  Bampoloki Seeiso of Bobididi ward in Mogoditshane and Tumelo Tshukudu of Phase I in Gaborone West, are accused of the murder of Fairground Holdings chief executive officer, Mr Michael Montshiwa.

The accused, who were represented by attorney, Mr Enock Mazonde, appeared before Senior Magistrate Ike Raphael on December 29. According to the charge sheet, the duo and two others who were not before the court on or about October 18 in Gaborone acting together and in consent murdered Mr Montshiwa.

The investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Sergeant Marapo, told the court that the rifle, which was used to kill Mr Montshiwa was bought from Seeiso by another accused, Modise David, with the assistance of Tshukudu.

Prior to the buying of the rifle, Tshukudu and David reportedly travelled to Mafikeng in South Africa in an effort to buy a pistol for David’s self-protection. However, their mission was not successful, as the person whom they wanted to buy the gun from did not show up.   

Consequently, Detective Superintendent Marapo said, Tshukudu advised David to buy a rifle from Seeiso and he did at a cost of P2 500. The rifle was delivered on October 17 prior to the day of the shooting of Mr Montshiwa at his house in Block 6 in Gaborone, said the investigating officer.

When the gun was delivered, another suspect, who is a male South African national, Wilfred Mpolokeng was reportedly in Botswana including in the night of the shooting. He has since crossed to his country. Seeiso and Tshukudu will appear again for mention on January 12, 2016.

MEANWHILE, on December 24, David appeared before the same court and was given a conditional bail of P10 000. The 31-year-old lawyer is facing two charges of murder and stealing by agent.   

Detective Superintendent Marapo told the court that David was the last person to communicate with Mr Montshiwa, 28 minutes before the fatal shooting. He noted that police investigations revealed that between June 30 and October 17 this year, David who was Mr Montshiwa’s attorney, withdrew about P245 000.

The money was entrusted on him for the purchase of a plot for Mr Montshiwa in Mogoditshane. When Mr Montshiwa realised that the money was missing from the trust account, he communicated with David demanding to see him at his house on the night in which he was killed.

The court ordered David to surrender his travelling documents and report daily at Gaborone West Police Station.  David would appear for another mention on January 25, 2016. Ends